Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 15

You Shu quickly prepared two simple dishes and reheated her earlier ones before setting everything on the table.

Normally, when there were no guests, the family ate at a small table, creating a cozy atmosphere.

“Try what I made!” You Shu said, placing a piece of braised pork in each of their bowls. She then rested her chin in her hand and asked expectantly, “How does it taste?”

Shen Zhao and Shen Jiaping exchanged glances. Shen Zhao swallowed calmly and said casually, “Mm, it’s delicious.”

Shen Jiaping shot her a curious look, then eyed the braised pork in her bowl skeptically. Mimicking Shen Zhao, she took a bite, and her expression instantly changed.

“How is it?” You Shu asked Shen Jiaping, clearly pleased by Shen Zhao’s approval.

Fortunately, Shen Jiaping recovered quickly, nodding with tears in her eyes. “No joke, this is chef-level stuff.”

You Shu nodded contentedly and picked at the stir-fried greens Shen Zhao had cooked. “Then eat up, both of you, especially Xiao Zhao. She’s been having such a hard time lately, she’s gotten so thin.”

“Exactly!” Shen Jiaping chimed in, eagerly pushing the entire plate of braised pork toward Shen Zhao. “Eat plenty and get your strength back.”

Shen Zhao tightened her grip on her chopsticks, an invisible drama of filial piety unfolding between father and daughter. “You shouldn’t eat so much, Dad. The braised pork won’t taste as good next time. Here, have some.”

“Ahem, ahem—” Shen Jiaping choked on her breath, unable to retort.

“I don’t know what you two are arguing about. There’s still a piece of meat in the fridge. I’ll make more for you next time!”

1. A mutual defeat.

Shen Zhao smiled faintly, her expression unchanged. Shen Jiaping’s face twitched subtly. Then, they resumed eating, one chopstickful after another, facing each other, eye to eye, until they finally finished the dish.

Just as they were about to breathe a sigh of relief, You Shu suddenly exclaimed, “Oh dear, I almost forgot! There’s still soup in the pot. You two sit tight and eat; I’ll go get it.”

Their expressions visibly shifted. Before they could stop her, You Shu had already rushed into the kitchen.

Seeing this, Shen Zhao abandoned all pretense of composure and quickly finished her bowl of rice. “Dad, I’m full. You can take your time.”

“Hey, you little brat!” Shen Jiaping hissed under her breath, helpless. “Next time you come home, just say you want to eat out. Don’t let your mother cook!”

“Alright, I’ll remember that,” Shen Zhao said, her voice heavy.

“What happened? I added so much water!” You Shu emerged with a small pot, utterly perplexed. “How did it dry out?”

Shen Jiaping sighed in relief, feeling like he’d narrowly escaped disaster. “Hahaha, maybe the heat was too high. Don’t worry about it, just sit down and eat.”

The meal ended on a relatively harmonious note.

Worried about Shen Zhao’s fatigue, You Shu helped her pack her luggage, offered a few parting words, and then left her to rest.

The room remained exactly as she remembered it, spotless and filled with the warmth of home, despite being occupied for only a few days each year.

After showering, Shen Zhao lay in bed, her mind drifting back to the pitiful way someone had clung to the doorframe as she left.

I should call and see what she’s up to.

The call was answered almost instantly. A mental image flashed through her mind: the woman cradling the phone.

If only she weren’t so shameless, so infuriating… sometimes she can be kind of cute.

“Wife, you finally remembered me!”

“What are you doing?”

“Missing my wife, thinking about my wife,” Shen Qiao murmured, staring at the only photo she had of Shen Zhao on her phone. The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt.

Shen Zhao rubbed her temples, a headache forming. “I just went home for a bit. It’s not like I’ve disappeared.”

“Wife~”

“Have you eaten?” Shen Zhao asked.

The mention of food only made Shen Qiao feel worse. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Wife, cooking is so hard.”

Shen Zhao’s brow furrowed instantly, and she sat up straight. “What did you do? Are you hurt? I told you to eat out! The keys are under the coffee table.”

Is my wife worried about me? A flicker of delight flashed through Shen Qiao’s heart. But when she glanced at her now-healed finger, she deeply regretted not taking a picture of the injury.

Seeing her silence, Shen Zhao hung up and immediately called back with a video call.

When the call connected, Shen Qiao’s eyes lit up at the sight of the lively figure on the screen. “Wife, how are you in there? Hey, I’m here too!”

Seeing that Shen Qiao was unharmed, Shen Zhao relaxed slightly. “Don’t mess with the electricity or gas while you’re home alone. Otherwise, you could blow yourself up and no one would even know.”

“I won’t die.”

Shen Zhao scoffed, “You’re not going to die. Do you think you have a body of steel?”

Shen Qiao stared intently at the person on the screen, murmuring softly, “I won’t die because I want to be with my wife.”

Shen Zhao, tired of her nonsensical logic, ordered takeout for her on her phone, planning to have her pick it up when it arrived.

Just then, the person she had asked to find a job for Shen Qiao replied, mentioning that a library in the city center was hiring. The main task would be organizing materials.

Shen Zhao thought it sounded promising and decided to discuss the details further. She told Shen Qiao, “I have things to take care of. Someone will deliver your food later. Go get it yourself. Remember what I said: stay home and don’t mess around. If you’re bored, watch TV.”

“Okay, Wife,” Shen Qiao said reluctantly, her eyes fixed on the screen until the video call ended.

Wasting no time, Shen Zhao immediately searched for the library online. The location and environment looked good. She then discussed the work hours and other details with the contact. Most importantly, Shen Qiao could start working right after the holiday.

The thought of finally getting rid of that annoying pest lifted a weight off Shen Zhao’s heart.

That evening.

Shen Zhao emerged from her bedroom just as You Shu was about to leave. Shen Jiaping, sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, quickly shot her a meaningful glance.

“Mom, where are you going?” Shen Zhao asked.

“The kitchen spices have expired. I’m going to buy some fresh ones so I can make you something delicious tonight.”

Shen Zhao finally understood her father’s earlier expression. She quickly grabbed You Shu’s arm. “Mom, I just remembered there’s a roast duck restaurant on Jiancheng Road that’s pretty good. Why don’t we eat there tonight instead?”

“Alright, since you’re rarely home,” You Shu agreed, though with a hint of disappointment. “Let’s go then.”

A potential disaster had been averted.

After dinner, as the family settled into their usual evening chatter, the conversation inevitably drifted back to Shen Zhao’s “life’s big matter”—marriage.

Fortunately, the next few days were spent visiting relatives for New Year’s greetings. The recent sensation caused by the artifacts unearthed at Feng’an Mausoleum meant the elders were more interested in asking about that, diverting some of the usual marriage pressure.

Shen Zhao had hoped the holiday would pass without further incident. But as it turned out, no New Year’s celebration is complete without the inevitable marriage inquiries.

From the moment she stepped out the door, Shen Zhao sensed an unusual atmosphere. Yet surprisingly, the “target” didn’t appear at the dinner table.

It wasn’t until the end of the meal, on the way home, that You Shu leaned in conspiratorially to Shen Zhao and asked, “Zhao Zhao, what did you think of the girl at dinner today? She used to live next door when you were in elementary school, remember?”

Shen Zhao, puzzled by the sudden question, replied honestly, “I don’t remember her.”

“You don’t remember? No worries, it’s a good chance to get to know her again.”

“Huh??”

So Mom was serious about this?

“Mom, I’m really not interested in girls,” Shen Zhao said, exasperated. “Please stop trying to set me up.”

“Then what are you interested in?” You Shu asked, her voice tinged with hurt. “You don’t like anyone I introduce you to.”

Shen Jiaping, who had been silent until now, interjected coolly, “What else could she be interested in besides those things she digs up from the ground?”

Shen Zhao couldn’t argue with that.

You Shu pouted, then took Shen Zhao’s hand. “Mom’s just worried you’ll be lonely. If you really don’t want romance, at least find someone to take care of each other with.”

Shen Zhao nodded in agreement, but her mind involuntarily flashed to a certain someone’s face. She immediately shook her head in disdain. Take care of each other? It’d be a miracle if she didn’t cause me more trouble.